It List: The Best New Hotels 2013

Renovation: Peninsula Hong Kong

Serenity is the word that comes to mind when you enter one of the Peninsula Hong Kong’s renovated Tower rooms. There’s gleaming burl-wood cabinetry with hardware modeled after vintage trunks and luxurious upholstery and paneling in creamy tones; the only dash of color comes from the blossom appliqué hovering on one wall, a subtle reminder that you are, after all, in Asia. Nestled deep within the walls of these classic modern spaces is 21st-century technology on steroids: electronic panels control the rooms’ various features, from lighting, window treatments, and music and video selection to a guide to the city and live flight-status updates in five languages. And then there are the heart-stopping views of Victoria Harbour and towering buildings of Hong Kong Island—a sparkling rim of lights once the sun goes down. $$$$